March 24, 2011

About a year ago, State Supreme Court Justice Prosser lost his temper behind closed doors and called [Wisconsin Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson] a "bitch" and threatened to "destroy" her.

Problems got so bad that justices on both sides described the court as dysfunctional, and Prosser and others suggested bringing in a third party for help.... This is being used by hyper partisans to "prove" that Justice Prosser, after 13 years on the bench and 17 years in the State Legislature, is unfit for the court....

THAT would be spectacular! Not good for the city at all, but highly entertaining.

Would these justices have the same complaint if Abrahamson was a male? I'm afraid I usually ask this question when I read articles like this. Four White Men in 1999 po-ed because of a woman not telling them what's going on.

In all criminal prosecutions or indictments for libel, the truthmay be given in evidence, and if it shall appear to the jury thatthe matter charged as libelous be true, and was published withgood motives and for justifiable ends, the party shall beacquitted; and the jury shall have the right to determine the lawand the fact.

So the partisans are all in, saying the other guy is bad, and using every (leaked) scrap of evidence. Yet both Prosser and Abrahamson have been re-elected over and over. If WI has such a strong open-meetings law, why are SupCt judicial conferences not included? The decisions and their justifying texts are no longer enough, Wisconsin wants to see how the sausage is made before deciding if it is tasty.

Kloppenburg opened a can of worms when she declared a new role for the WiSpCt, that of being an active counterweight to the Exec and Legis.

Would these justices have the same complaint if Abrahamson was a male? I'm afraid I usually ask this question when I read articles like this. Four White Men in 1999 po-ed because of a woman not telling them what's going on.

Of course, there are also plenty of toxic bitches who, when called on it, claim that they are only assertive.

For many years I lived across the street from a Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice. The justice was a moderate person, certainly not particularly conservative, and widely respected. S[h]e was very circumspect. Once, just once, out of frustration s[h]e got started on difficulties with Justice Shirley. I never heard my neighbor swear, not even on this occasion, but if I were to translate that opinion into plainer and less polite English, the B word would be a useful shorthand.

No, Triangle, "Bitch" does not mean assertive. Or even aggressive. It is the female equivalent of describing a particularly nasty and unpleasant man a prick. There are bitches and pricks in the world, and it's particularly ugly when they have considerable power.

No dog here, but it just may be those who say the toxicity was on the other side are correct and Prosser just got fed up (men do that with women occasionally) was just (are you ready?) Speaking Truth to Power.

If Prosser was one of those asking for outside help, he may be seen as the more reasonable.

The comments to that article are pretty interesting. Among other things, Proser is "accused" of being gay with wink and nod comments about him not being married, and all. I am always amused at how the lefties consider being gay something to be accused of.

The gays might eventually figure out that, with friends like these, they should think about becoming Republicans. Quite a few have figured it out.

As I understand this issue, Abrahamson is a proud bitch from the days of yore when a man "Using A Bad Word" to a bitch in private to her face meant something. That is so out of date. A man is not automatically condemned by that anymore. Saying a bad word in public may be bad form, but that did not happen here. The opponent got some of her buddies to repeat it herself backhandedly in hopes of drawing sympathy for a powerless oppressed woman.

It matters to anyone who cares about the truth if Prosser is right or if he's not.

I doubt it matters even a little bit to most of the people voting there, though.

The comments were interesting... whining about how it's absolutely acceptable to try to destroy people who don't share your politics (but apparently not acceptable to use the word) by organizing a boycott, that and the suggestion that Prosser is gay so he let a pedophile skate. (I agree, wow, these are your friends?) And just a little bit of moral outrage (okay, mostly it was all the same commenter) about how no matter how much of a bitch someone is it's never ever okay to lose your temper and say so.

Crack is right that most women are far from goddesses. But a fine looking woman like Liz Taylor was still one of the 10 wonders of God's created world for which I am thankful. Crack may be a wonder too, but he is farther down the list.

Your blog has captured a real ugly side of Wisconsin. All I see from the losing political side and the protestors is them shrieking and crying "me me me". And that has ruined the picture I held that Midwesterners were far less strident and self-involved than us assholes on the Coasts.

I read the entire article, and none of it surprised me. I think the fact that J. Prosser called C.J. Abrahamson a "total bitch" says more about his temperament than hers. If you care about judicial temperament, the question is whether Ms. Kloppenberg's temperament is better than J. Prosser's. Even if Justice Prosser is correct and C.J. Abrahamson is a "total bitch" his inability to refrain from saying so is troubling at least. If I disagreed with someone repeatedly at work and told her that she was a "total bitch" (rather than just a partial one) and that I would "destroy" her, I would probably get fired. Should he?

Also, why is the Republican Party distributing his campaign signs? I thought this was a non-partisan election?

Meade: "Dave Blaska is invaluable to anyone trying to understand Dane County/Madison/Wisconsin politics. I listen to him with Vicki McKenna on 1310 WIBA whenever I get the chance. Those two inspire me."

I'm glad to hear you've found a place on the dial in Madison to listen to people who likely always agree with you. So comforting. I know Mr. Blaska enjoys a drink and he has a good sense of humor. I am not sure he is inspiring really though, that is a bit of a stretch. Who knows, maybe Meade is easily inspired?

Not sure what is wrong about my opinions, but nonetheless, thanks for thanking me!

Can you tell me what is wrong about what I said, because I'm surprised you apparently find it acceptable for a supreme court justice (or any other professional not involved in the dog industry or acting) to call a colleague a bitch, let alone a total bitch.

Reagan...I am very sad to hear that a private exchange recently made public for Kloppenburg's benefit is so "troubling" to you. Have you tried psychoanalysis? But in any event, time will probably heal the troublesomeness you are feeling so intensely. Do you think washing out Prosser's mouth with soap would help your pure feelings so crushed after hearing a bad, bad word word was spoken in private? Seriously, I would advise you not to attend Wisconsin Badger Football Games where much worse bad words are screamed out in public at the opposing team.

Reagan said..."I think the fact that J. Prosser called C.J. Abrahamson a "total bitch" says more about his temperament than hers."

The convention "[surname], J." or "[surname], C.J." is recorded in cases as early as the thirteenth century, IIRC, and undoubtedly its use goes back even further. I think we should stick with it when abbreviating—Justice Prosser or Prosser, J., but not a mix-n-match.

I'm sure if Ms. Kloppenberg had called opposing counsel in a case a "fucking asshole" (and in fact the opposing counsel was a fucking asshole) you'd have no problem with it and not claim that her having said so diminishes her qualifications and ability to act as a state supreme court justice. That would pass by with nary a comment.

What if? There are always free riders. Most of the time, because life is short, and we don't need the complications, we endure their depredations, instead of calling them out (we figure God will call them to account). But every once in a while we just get fed up with the free rider ...

Brennan, Trooper, not Blackmun. You know, I was in St. Louis not long ago, and I found it striking that the eighth circuit courthouse has an encomium to Justice Blackmun. If I were them, I would sweep under the rug that Blackmun was an alum; but for one case serendipitously aligning with the needs of abortion activists, Blackmun's occasionally injudicious (Casey) and even maudlin (DeShaney) tenure would not be fondly remembered.

What's more noteworthy to me than what anyone called anyone else or whether that person fits the moniker is that another justice felt it necessary to memorialize this in an email. It was a face-to-face exchange. Justice Prosser isn't the one who put it in writing.

"I'm sure if Ms. Kloppenberg had called opposing counsel in a case a "fucking asshole" (and in fact the opposing counsel was a fucking asshole) you'd have no problem with it and not claim that her having said so diminishes her qualifications and ability to act as a state supreme court justice."

Behind doors as opposed to in the courtroom? Are you kidding?

If *she* called someone a f*cking asshole who was, in fact, a f*cking asshole, she'd be lauded as a tough cookie who took no gruff.

Because I think that the world is split into two camps... those that think it's okay for one party to push, push, push, and never okay for the other party to reach the end of their control in the face of it... and those who recognize that the initial behavior is "toxic" and abusive and hostile, particularly when it is persistent, and the person who finally, *finally*, breaks, is not at fault.

Goddamn I am officially a fossil when words like toodaloo are from an ancient language!

Synova:Both kids were suspended. The little kid's parents mde him apologize to the big kid who had been a target of all the school's bullies. Howevr, I think all's well that ends well- the big kid now knows how strong he is and won't be bullied anymore. In fact, I would not b surprised to se him someday starring in a WWF match like Triple H or Hulk Hogan have done.

"The bizarre world of the right, where a potential judge calling a colleague a bitch is considered a sign of impartial judicial temperament."

Nobody said so.

All anyone has said is that it actually does make a difference if Prosser is right.

In the bizarre world of the left, apparently, one is supposed to simply endure the alleged behavior or be guilty while the other party is excused. Unless they aren't excused, in which case it's going to depend not on who is right, but on politics.